Weather
Snow nurse walks nine miles to treat patient
7:20am Tuesday 10th February 2009
A nurse walked for nine miles through the snow to treat a patient who could have died without dialysis last week.
On Monday February 2, renal nurse Debbie Noble fought her way through the snow from her home in Ashtead to Ewell to treat a patient after heavy snowfall meant there was no other way of getting to her.
Because of chronic renal failure, patient Steph Crawford needs dialysis at least three times a week. She was due to have dialysis on Monday morning following the normal weekend break, and knew it was vital that she received the treatment.
Steph said: “The fact is, without dialysis I would have died. I know it sounds dramatic, but it’s true. I know that I need dialysis at least three times a week, so by Tuesday I would have been in real trouble.”
Steph said: “I got up at my normal time to go to dialysis, but when I stepped out of the door, the snow was up to my knees. I tried to drive, but at the end of my road I got completely stuck.
"I really began panicking then - I couldn’t get to hospital and didn’t think an ambulance would be able to get to me. I thought I would need an air ambulance.
“I rang the hospital and spoke to Debbie and she just told me to get ready because she was coming over. When I told her it would be impossible because of the icy weather, she simply said ‘No, I’m walking.’”
Luckily, Debbie had been working closely with Steph to set up a home dialysis unit but the machine was not ready for use.
With the approval of renal consultant Ginny Quan, it was decided to start Steph’s dialysis at home.
Debbie rang technicians at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and they gave her support over the phone until the dialysis machine was up and running.
Steph added: “It was a real team effort and I am grateful to everyone involved, and especially Debbie. What she did was fantastic, amazing.
"But she won’t take any credit for it - she just says ‘oh, it’s my job’, but not many other people would do what she did. She’s ‘Noble’ by name and ‘noble’ by nature.
“There aren’t enough words to say how thankful I am to her. She is literally a real life saver. She’s a star,” said Steph.
Debbie said: “I was pretty tired after all that walking, but the outcome was very successful. It was definitely worth it. I am used to walking, but I have to say that walking in the snow and ice is much harder than normal - I’m still wearing blister plasters.”
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The snow lay knee deep across Epsom last week
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Hephaistos, Sunbury says...
12:08pm Wed 11 Feb 09
A great example to set for all of those who did not even try to beat the weather.
They would still have expected the NHS to come to the help of them, and their nearest and dearest, on the days they not only stayed at home but often also risked their necks playing in the snow.